LCD TVs are certainly the most common televisions currently available to consumers and, with the disappearance of plasma, most think that LCD TVs (LED / LCD) are the only type left. However, this is not the case since another type of TV is available that actually has some advantages over LCD – OLED.
SEE ALSO- QLED vs. OLED vs. MicroLED, what is the best technology?
What is OLED TV
OLED is the acronym of Organic Light Emitting Diode. OLED is a growth of LCD technology that uses organic compounds formed in pixels to create images, without the need for further backlighting. As a result, OLED technology allows very thin screens that are much thinner than traditional LCD and plasma screens.
OLED versus LCD
OLED is similar to the LCD display because the OLED panels can be arranged in very thin layers, allowing a slim TV frame design and efficient energy consumption. Moreover, just like LCD, OLED is subject to dead pixel defects.
On the other hand, even if OLED TVs can display very colorful images and weakness of OLED compared to LCD is the emission of light. By manipulating the backlight system, LCD TVs can be designed to emit more than 30% more light than brighter OLED TVs. This means that LCD TVs offer better performance in bright environments, while OLED TVs are more suitable for poorly lit or dimmable environments.
OLED versus plasma
OLED is similar to plasma in that the pixels self-emit. Furthermore, just like plasma, it is possible to produce deep black levels. However, like plasma, OLED is subject to burn-in.
Furthermore, at present, OLED displays have a shorter life than LCD or plasma displays, with the blue part of the color spectrum most at risk. Furthermore, switching to clear, large OLED TVs is more expensive than LCD or plasma TVs.
On the other hand, OLED TVs show the best screen images seen so far. The color is exceptional and, since the pixels can be activated and deactivated individually, OLED is the only TV technology capable of displaying absolute black.
Furthermore, since the OLED TV panels can be made so thin, they can also be bent, resulting in the appearance of curved screen TVs (Note- some LCD TVs have also been made with curved screens).
LG against Samsung
OLED technology can be implemented in different ways on television. At first, two were used. The LG variation on OLED technology is called WRGB, which combines white OLED self-emitting subpixels with red, green and blue color filters.
On the other hand, Samsung uses red, green and blue sub-pixels without added color filters. LG’s approach is to limit the effect of the premature degradation of the blue color that was inherent to the Samsung method.
It is interesting to note that, in 2015, Samsung abandoned the OLED TV market. On the other hand, although Samsung does not currently produce OLED TVs, it has created some confusion in the consumer market with its use of the term “QLED” in the labeling of some of its high-end televisions.
However, QLED TVs are not OLED TVs. In reality, they are LED / LCD TVs that place a layer of Quantum Dots (hence the “Q”), between the LED backlight and the LCD layers to improve color performance.
TVs that use quantum dots still require a black or edge lighting system (unlike OLED TVs) and have both advantages (bright images) and disadvantages (it is not possible to display the absolute black) of LCD TV technology.
Resolution, 3D and HDR
Just like with LCD TVs, OLED TV technology is resolution-independent. In other words, the resolution of an LCD or OLED television depends on the number of pixels placed on the surface of the panel.
Although all OLED TVs now available support 4K display resolution, some previous OLED TV models have been produced with 1080p native resolution display reports.
Although TV manufacturers no longer offer the 3D viewing option for US consumers, OLED technology is compatible with 3D and, until the 2017 model year, LG offered 3D OLED TVs that were very well received. If you are a 3D fan, you may still be able to find one used or in play.
Furthermore, OLED TV technology is HDR compatible – although HDR-enabled OLED TVs cannot display the highest brightness levels many LCD TVs are capable of – at least for now.
Conclusion
After years of false starts, since 2014, OLED TV has been available to consumers as an alternative to LED / LCD TVs. However, even if prices are falling, OLED TVs with the same screen size and feature set of the LED / LCD TV competition are more expensive, sometimes double.
However, if you have the money and you can control the lights in the room, OLED TVs offer an excellent TV viewing experience.
